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I think this is a great appointment. There is so much data that it is easy for clubs to drown in it or traditional 'football analysts' to use it simplistically. It takes work and skill converting it to meaningful information that non techies can understand in an instant. That covers both the presentation of data and more importantly providing real insight into a game and extracting the important aspects for decisions and strategy . This is how he described his role at Port, on Linedin: Providing and communicating advanced statistical analysis of game trends, teams, and players to key members within the football department. Presenting team strategy and opposition analysis to the Head Assistant Coach both during the week and on gameday. Maintaining a stable data infrastructure with many different users and active data sources in Adelaide and around the country. Last year the Saints poached the Hawks equivalent to Robert Younger, Darren O'Shaughnessy who had been with Clarkson for 7 years. The is an essential role at a football club and look forward to the impact Rob's work has.

Health is more important than footy Get well, young man, and do something else All the best

I like this appointment. Not that I know anything about Robert Younger particularly but I know we absolutely should be investing in analytics. We will never be the biggest club, we have to be smarter than everyone else to get success. Which means smart coaches, smart fitness staff, smart recruiters and giving all of those guys tools to get better at their job. That's what an analytics guy can do. So many trends come and go in footy and the teams that are at the leading edge of those trends win games and win premierships. - The importance of forward pressure and then full ground up and back presses - Left footers kicking from the backline - Intercept markers across half back retaining possession etc etc If I were a coach I'd love to know what skills/plans are actually vital to winning games. And if I were a recruiter I'd like to know what traits are actually the most valuable. Is it size/speed/kicking ability/winning one on ones/winning ground balls. Should we look to trade up the draft for elite talent or is the smarter move to trade back and bank more draft picks.

There’s an 87% chance that this is going to benefit the club.

The veil of negativity on this site has become contagious. It's bad for your health. So get off your computers, and go outside, play with your grandkids, or something...

I feel like we have given up Dustin Martin with the way some of these campaigners on here are carrying on.

Petracca and Salem are currently on a training camp in the US. Kyle Dunkley has just joined them. Saw recent photos of Salem and Trac and both looking in absolutely ripping nick.

Young has always been a midfielder until he went to the Rays. It was a part of trying to teach him other roles and responsibilities as often happens with really talented kids. Having seen the boy play since he was 10, coaching against him and knowing him through junior rep cricket as well as footy, I can guarantee that he is a genuinely multifaceted footballer. His pace is good (not express), he is courageous - going back into packs is not a problem, he's a great mark for his size (can play a bit taller than his 188 cm) and his kicking is elite. He can find his own ball and is also great on the outside. He may play some defence, but I think ultimately he'll work between half back and the midfield, like Whitfield. If we don't take him at 3 then whoever we do take had better be bloody good because they'll be hard pressed to carve out a better career than this bloke will.

Clarko says hello. https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/sport/2018/jun/28/from-collection-to-analysis-sports-data-and-its-profound-impact-on-the-afl

Laurie Fowler from the 70's .... Another hardnut. Will always be remembered for this hit on Big John Nicholls while playing for Richmond.

If this thread is going to continue can we please refer to Frost by his full name - “Future Brownlow Medalist Sam Frost”.

Fully agree re above, he'd also missed around 6-8 games earlier in the season with his foot and this was his second or third game back. He was also very good in our finals campaign last year. I feel is if Viney has been holding himself back a bit partly to manage his foot but also to build some continuity in his fitness base and conditioning over several seasons.

I still think this is a big change of happening. GWS have, in terms of 2020 picks: - GWS 1st round pick - GWS 2nd round pick - GWS 3rd round pick - North 3rd round pick I think to satisfy us, it’d have to be pick 6, 1st and 2nd round picks at a minimum. Maybe even a third too. In a very weak & compromised draft, GWS should be content to trade out, just as we’d expect more in return than you normally would. The other possibility is that we’re simply keeping pick 3, but want to prime GWS for us to bid on Green, to solidify our reputation as straight-shooters and ensure we have more options at 8. I’d be bloody happy with Green, but they’ll never allow it to happen. I think GWS have tried to be too cute, not working hard enough to complete a trade using players, or acquiring good enough assets before the end of the trade period, with the assumption that we’ll eventually trade as it gets the best net result for us. The fly in the ointment is that I’m not sure we’re willing to give a competitor such an advantage without significantly benefitting ourselves (and bringing their position back into line). Interesting times.

The weekend can't be ruined until the last possible moment? And if we win then the working week starts off in the best possible way.

Intriguing. I recall some of his analysis had been referred to on this site a couple years ago with respect to where we were taking our shots on goal - i.e. as close as possible with minimal angle; something I had been mildly critical of - as forgetting the pros and cons I felt it was curtailing footy instincts (and in my opinion led to the demise of Garlett, among other issues). I've always believed Simon is an out-an-out stats-nut - looking to uncover small advantages in an increasingly tight competition on the gains v losses ledger. The high press is a perfect case in point (and for the record, I don't think we genuinely fired a shot with respect to the game-plan in 2019). We leak like mad, it looks ugly, but then we hope to outscore through the attacking advantage. That's fine. Simple. But then questions emerged around feasibility. Is the game-style too exhausting to maintain for example? Along with other potentially unforeseen consequences. I think Simon is super-bright as to tactically analysing the long-game of football, but the recruitment of Rob may help sharpen up the insights and bring balance to what we implement. Edit: Here's maybe the article I was referring to. https://figuringfooty.com/2017/08/10/the-quality-and-quantity-of-shots-created-by-each-club/

I don't mean to pry but are you older than 70? Otherwise age isn't an excuse if you're younger than Bill James - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_James If you're even remotely in to baseball you can read Moneyball. Or Astroball. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37822619-astroball If you like the NFL you can look in to what the Pats - maybe now one of the greatest teams in any sport - have done https://www.espn.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4817050/patriots-take-pride-in-their-use-of-analytics-to-help-scouting Or how the Eagles used analytics to win a superbowl - https://www.espn.com/blog/philadelphia-eagles/post/_/id/27697/eagles-provide-roadmap-to-analytics-driven-future-of-nfl A stack of examples in Basketball too.

Any recruiting dept that made decisions based on this factor is totally derelict in their duty. Should never be a consideration.

That was at Port. Some clubs use the title Senior Assistant Coach. I think both are the Head Coach's right arm man. So I'm guessing it will be Richardson for Goodwin. I think Goodwin was the SAC under Roos. If your question is who was our 'data analyst' I'm not sure we had one in the contemporary context. We have 'football analysts' but my guess is they use more traditional and less sophisticated techniques and tools than Younger brings.

More words and now numbers to go with them. Show me action!!!

And the data analysis influences the quality of the disposals and the goal kicking in what way? Yawn!!!!

Some say we should have kept Frosty because he's a fan favourite, but that's only because he kept kicking the footy to them.

Pre-season is on and we are training the house down!! Seriously does beat the morbidity reading through Demonland late last season though. If guys like Salem and Trac can get that extra bit of fitness and physical conditioning, watch out for the mighty Demons in 2020.

Perhaps you could weave some of your magic with Dieters line above....

3-Green. Giants (nomination by Dees) 4- Young. Dees 5- Stephens. Crows 6- Ash. Freo 7- Serong. Swans 8- Kemp. Dees that’s a great double for the Dees

Watch his game vs West Coast 2017. Pretty much willed us across the line in that last quarter

This is the beginning of a rhyme I wrote as a young schoolboy, many more than 50 years ago: "Umpire Gaudion is no good, His head is 98% wood; What happened to the other 2%? Well I'm telling you now, it's made of cement! He reported my idol Ron, For striking R. Dean upon the scone, Well give me time, and I'll prove beyond doubt, They were only having a friendly bout." ............... My very poor and childish attempt at poetry goes on for many verses beyond that, but I won't bore Demonlanders with those. Having said that, it does sum up my feelings at the time, and these feelings haven't changed one iota since I started wearing long pants, and taking a second look at the opposite sex. I know one or two current Demonlanders, some now living on the other side of the globe, who could vouch for that!

I'm not in the slightest bit disappointed to be using our first pick on an elite HBF if that's what he turns out to be and that's who we pick. We are pregnant with midfielders but our small back situation is close to dire. Hibberd is finished, or close to, Jetta is getting on, Salem is the only small back with a good period left to play and I'm not sure who else we've got. Whoever it is will have to either move from a better position (Harmes, Brayshaw, Fritsch) or jump out of the pack - Lockhart, Sparrow. Good distributors from half back are gold as Redleg is saying, just look at Whitfield, Sheppard, Hurn, Houli and Haynes. I'm all for getting someone of that class.

Nancy’s pretty rotten at the moment and quiet frankly, I’m not much better. Thanks for asking though.

Was the West Coast game in Perth (R 14 I think) and he was injured as well. He was as good as Joel Selwood in this game and his last quarter extra significant in getting us across the line, oh with Tommy's 5 goals and that last famous kick. Thst is a benchmark as us the 2 Finals in 2018 and if he can get fitness and form like that our season will be a good one no doubt.

Just don't call him"'Basil" whatever you do.

I thought it was Sam "Clarko's Gun" Frost?

I'm bored so this is my 100% uneducated stab at the top 10. I haven't factored in potential trades of picks at this stage. Gold Coast - Matt Rowell Gold Coast - Noah Anderson Melbourne - Hayden Young GWS (matching Adelaide's bid) - Tom Green Adelaide - Sam Flanders Sydney - Caleb Serong Freemantle - Luke Jackson Melbourne - Brodie Kemp Carlton - Deven Robertson Freemantle - Lachie Ash Assuming we still have pick 3, I think Young is the one for us. It will be interesting to see who Adelaide go for and talk of Sydney being keen on Kemp is intriguing as well. If Kemp goes to Adelaide or Sydney then one of Serong or Flanders will be available at our pick with Freo having two high quality WA kids to pick from. I've gone Robertson for Carlton as I think they'll be looking for one more high quality inside production mid to compliment Cripps and Walsh but this could easily be flipped with Freo if they elect to take Robertson at 7. If Carlton are confident of getting Martin for free in one of the drafts I'm not convinced they'll place a bid on Henry. Still a way out from the draft but with live trading a few clubs having multiple picks in the top 10 it makes for an interesting draft. I wouldn't be opposed to taking Stephens at 8 as well, not so sure about Weightman.

The English racing identity 'Matt Chapman' gave the Hayes clan (and the owners*) a serve after they sacked Nolen and mentioned that there was no justification in doing so. And I agree with him. And now they've got got their just deserts and are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Stubborness will possibly win out so I don't expect Nolen to be reinstated. And if one was to watch the Caulfield Cup again (closely) it's hard to see what Nolen did wrong. It was a roughhouse affair at times and he just got caight up in it. As did a number of other jockeys. In an 18 horse field over 2400m at a tight course like Caulfield - what do people expect? *Coolmore are the principle owners of Constantinople

I could be wrong, but isn’t there a rule that, if you trade out your future 1st, you can’t trade out picks from any other rounds (unless you have more than one pick in a round)? If this is right, it would mean the best we could hope for is their 1st & a 3rd?

Eloquently phrased, as expected of such a great writer. Far more enjoyable to read than much if the venom seen here particularly regarding this particular player I would also highly recommend that if he has ever even in passing looked at this site he desists from doing so. The often personal invective cannot do anything for his self confidence as a player or indeed as a person

I think it might be Hayden Young. To replace Heath Shaw at half back

Ok so like the div 1 league or whatever they call themselves these days.....interesting. I had a multi running with Juventus kicking it off its 1-1 at the 70th minute so i cashed out......start again with some Italian clubs and German and Spata and an NBL side....even threw in the womans netball who are playing NZ.....got 16/1 so that will do.....good practice for Monkey and a lot less tiring than the horses!

I'm all over the England leagues tonight (as per usual) Went for doubles only last week but trebles tonight. There are any number of free-scoring teams that usually win at home and those are the teams that I follow. Especially in the National League North & South.

Looks like the pattern continued.....Me and DZ lose...Macca win! crazy....

As possibly the youngest player selected in last years “super” draft at pick 33, I wonder where he would be placed in this years draft if he had of been born a few days later? 12 months on he has now played a full season of VFL and worked his way into becoming a starting mid by the end of the year with decent possession numbers. Maybe that makes him the equivalent of a first round pick this year?

I may be in the minority but I kinda hope we take Stephens over Kemp (as unlikely it is we'd get the choice between the two at pick 8 )I'm surprised he's not getting more love, he seems like a perfect fit

GWS would only be taking him before Green if they get the opportunity to do so which means they would have to trade their pick 6 to Melbourne for 3. They had their chance to do this during the trade period when they could have offered a player as part of the deal. This is now highly unlikely and GWS doesn’t appear to have the necessary currency to do this now. If Melbourne nominates Tom Green, I can’t see GWS passing on him for Jackson.

Luke Hodge spent a fair part of his career playing off half back with plenty of rotations through the middle as did Jarrod Mcveigh

My reading was that he asked those who hadn't made prior arrangements ... not IMO pi55 poor travelling overseas in their down time, and it does sounds like most at least are on a fitness programme whilst away.

I think you misread it. Quotes from article: "WHILE the Melbourne players are currently scattered all around the world on their end of season breaks, Jack Viney has taken three youngsters to Cairns, but not on a holiday" "... the whole team is sticking to the program set by new performance manager Darren Burgess..." Players are doing their training program wherever they are. Pretty good effort all round, I reckon. They will be primed for the start of the pre-season.

Sounds like a completely different start to the pre-season than last year, when at this time at least half of the first 22 were recovering from various surgeries. If the training plans are already underway and the guys are doing this plus ‘extra bike sessions’ etc, we should start pre-season in such a better spot than last year. Jack taking some youngsters North to train in more humid/hot conditions to increase the load is a very clear demonstration of leadership. I imagine the pressure is on for him to keep the captaincy, with Max snapping at his heels for either a share or the full mantle. Good to see him stepping up and leading.

Frost would have been great depth sure. But you can’t pay depth players the kind of coin he was chasing. Would you rather keep Frost or re-sign Oliver and Gawn when their contracts are up? List management is about a lot more than just keeping onto players you think are OK. We have to manage our cap. Oh and the McDonald conspiracy theory is amazing. I love it. Unique and refreshing. Tom must be one hell of a negotiator. Getting new contracts for himself and his brother and getting rid of their competition. Shame he couldn’t stop them recruiting May and Lever.

My position on OMac is obviously well known. I think he will play regular senior footy next year. Bu i also acknowledge my confirmation bias. But leaving that discussion alone i think it is worth seeing Omac's 2019 season (which was horrible, no question) in the context of his pre season hip surgery . In many ways he is a microcosm of the whole team and the season for many players. Hip surgery and the resulting rehab can't help with core strength or burst speed - two areas he is struggled with as many people noted on DL, much more so than in 2018 - an issue for a lock down defender of opposition key forwards. Then you add the impact on his ability to put good fitness and strength base down, add in the fact he is clearly a confidence player and struggled with that aspect and was in a back line missing most of it best players and you get a recipe for a poor season. You could replace OMac's name (and type of surgery) with any number of players and you get the same result - poo seasons. On top of the list is Gus.